Swedish prosecutors have said that they will put two men on trial for setting fire to the Quran in a series of incidents last year that prompted outrage from the Muslim world.
Senior Prosecutor, Anna Hankkio, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that the Swedish Prosecution Authority held that the two men committed “offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group” on four separate occasions when burning Islam’s holy book outside a mosque and in other public places.
Sweden’s domestic security service raised its terrorism alert level as a result of the burnings, while neighbouring Denmark, which also saw a spate of Quran burnings, tightened its legislation to outlaw the practice.
The statement further reads: “Both men are prosecuted for having on these four occasions made statements and treated the Quran in a manner intended to express contempt for Muslims because of their faith.”
Muslims view desecrating the Quran, which they see as the literal word of God, as a grave offence.
Evidence against the two men, Salwan Momika and Salwan Najem, consists largely of video recordings.
Najem has denied any wrongdoing, his lawyer, Mark Safaryan, told Reuters on Wednesday.
“The permit granted in connection with the demonstration is covered by my client’s intent. His rights are protected by the Swedish constitution,” Safaryan said.
The lawyer for Momika did not respond to requests for a comment.
Sweden’s migration agency said that it wanted to deport Momika due to false information on his application for residency but that the order would not be carried out because he was at risk of torture in his home country. (Reuters)
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